“Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.”
– Coco Chanel
1. The Hub of Metal AM
Neighborhood 91 in Pittsburgh is becoming a global hot spot for 3D printed metal parts. The manufacturing campus includes six companies (with room for more) that aim to revolutionize metal additive manufacturing, displacing older tech and reshoring production. Current companies are already producing innovative components, marking a shift toward efficiency and collaboration in the metal 3D printing industry, with potential economic growth and job creation for the region. Andrew Carnegie could be making a comeback!
2. The Revolution of Laser Machines
Sunlight-Tech, a former consulting firm, has transformed into a successful micro-laser machine shop specializing in intricate part production. The company excels in cutting small, complex parts, outperforming traditional CNC and EDM machines. Their tech offers advantages like faster machining, minimal tool wear, temperature stability, and cleaner parts. I’m not a skeptic, but I’ll believe it can outperform EDM when gunmaker Bill Geissele makes the switch for the production of his match-grade triggers!
3. Buggati Is Making A Hybrid...
… with a V-16! Need some good news or need to unwind from all this technology for a bit? Same! Well, take a look – and a listen – to Bugatti’s new V-16 (that’s right, a V – not a W but more of a win) to see the latest manufacturing tech being put to good use. The crankshaft alone is a feat of engineering, as few V-16-powered cars have ever seen the light of day. Brought to you by the same company that made a brake caliper in 2019 that was, at the time, the largest titanium component ever printed in the world.
4. Humanoids Are Trending
China leads the humanoid speed-walking wars, as Unitree Robotics now claims the world record with its H1 Evolution V3.0, which hits 3.3 meters per second walking. It excels at speed-walking, dancing, stair climbing, and jumping. Weighing 47 kg, it features 360-degree vision, an Intel RealSense camera, LiDAR, and dual processors. Notably, the standing jump utilizes M107 electric motors, setting it apart from hydraulic actuator-based competitors. Priced at $90,000, expect a wait time of three to 10 years for the H1.
5. The Next LeBlond Lathe
Recently, on a call with Dr. Tom Kurfess, I remarked that there are still a ton of post-war military surplus LeBlond lathes on the market. This is because U.S. naval vessels in the first half of the 20th century all had fully equipped and stocked machine shops in case they needed to fashion something far from port. I asked the wise doctor: What will be the next mil-surp equivalent to the LeBlond lathe in the next hundred years? Without hesitation, he replied, “The Haas TM-1 with a Meltio head.” The
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